Linda Trocko of Spring has one of the more than 100 specialty-plate designs the state offers. "I'm very patriotic," she said. The equestrian enthusiast got her plates with a personalized message.

Linda Trocko of Spring has one of the more than 100 specialty-plate designs the state offers. "I'm very patriotic," she said. The equestrian enthusiast got her plates with a personalized message.

Photo: Karen Warren

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The state has redesigned its general-issue license plate to make it easier to read and remember.

The state has redesigned its general-issue license plate to make it easier to read and remember.

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Retro Texas plates hitting the streets in Houston

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The state's new general-issue license plate, a black-on-white retro design dubbed The Texas Classic, is making its debut in the Houston area and by next month should be showing up on more cars.

With three letters and four numbers, the classic plate is easier to read and remember than its more colorful 2009 predecessor, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles said. The characters are a bit bigger than on the previous general-issue plate.

Most of the state's drivers use general-issue plates, which are included in the cost of vehicle registration.

"This is a very clean, simple look and appears to be very popular with the citizens of Texas," Victor Vandergriff, department chairman, said of the new design.

The new version lacks the old plate's mountains, clouds and red streak.

Inspiration for the new design came partly from studying other states' practices, motor vehicle department spokesman Adam Shaivitz said.

A shipment of new plates arrived last week at the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector's office, spokesman Fred King said. Before the office can issue the classic plates, it has to use its existing supply.

King said that some of the 15 branches probably will be issuing the new plates during the first week of August, and soon after that all will be.

The August time frame applies only to cars. State law prohibits using the new plates on light trucks before Oct. 15, he said.

Fort Bend County Tax Assessor-Collector Patsy Schultz said her office began issuing the new plates Monday.

"Those who have noticed them said they like them," Schultz said. "They are nice-looking and very simple, which is good. They're easy to read."

More than 100 choices

For vehicle owners who like choices, the state sells more than 100 specialty-plate designs, such as Animal Friendly and Red Grapefruit, as well as plates supporting various organizations and universities.

The fee for those is $30 plus the basic vehicle registration. Personalized specialty plates issued by the state sell for $40.

Myplates.com, a private vendor that contracts with the state, offers more than 140 designs ranging in cost from $55 to $395 for one year and from $295 to $795 for 10 years. Half the revenue goes to the state, and the other half is split between myplates.com and the sponsoring organization.

One of the seven is a redesign of the University of Houston plate, which myplates.com began selling in September 2010. The state has made a University of Houston plate since 1991, Shaivitz said. Both UH plates are still available.